MADRID (Spain): Jude Bellingham played a crucial role in Real Madrid’s 3-2 first-leg victory over Manchester City in the Champions League play-off but faced a setback after receiving a red card in a La Liga clash against Osasuna.
The England international was sent off for dissent, leaving Madrid down to ten men in a game where they dropped two points in the title race.
Bellingham apologised to his teammates, insisting the referee misunderstood him, but he remains focused on helping Madrid progress to the last 16.
“Just wanted to apologise again for leaving my team-mates in such a tough position,” he wrote on social media.
With his suspension ruling him out of domestic action, he will be fresh for the second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday.
Since joining Madrid from Borussia Dortmund in 2023, Bellingham has established himself as a key player.
His goals were instrumental in securing Madrid’s La Liga title and their record-extending 15th Champions League triumph last season.
The 21-year-old midfielder was previously linked with Manchester City but chose Madrid, calling it the “greatest” club.
In his first season, he scored 23 goals in 43 appearances, including a penalty in Madrid’s quarter-final shootout win over City.
He has often delivered in crucial moments, netting decisive goals in league Clasicos and key Champions League matches.
This season, with Kylian Mbappe’s arrival shifting his role slightly, Bellingham initially struggled to replicate his goal-scoring form but has since found rhythm, scoring 10 times in his last 20 games.
His latest goal, a stoppage-time winner against City, gave Madrid the first-leg advantage.
Now, after a turbulent few days, he looks to put Madrid over the line in their high-stakes showdown at the Bernabeu. – AFP
